Diwali Special - Karanji

After I got married and moved to Bahrain ,I was heart broken...that was the first time I was away from my family...I missed home like crazy...did not have any friends or neighbors....I was surprised that I did not lose my mind in the first 2 years. In course of time I did make friends...mingled with my neighbors.....but there was still something missing. Then one fine day an Indian restaurant-' Navaratna 'opened very close to our house.....this was when I got to meet the Navaratna family.....Ratna Aunty , Acchu, Amit and Ganesh Uncle....there are no words to describe what this family meant to me....if I love Bahrain...its because of this family. Ratna Aunty was like a mother...best friend...filled with wisdom...

Acchu......my sister.....my friend......gossip partner....

Amit .....my eating partner :))....

Ganesh Uncle...father.......hardworking....organised..

Not to forget ...Nowphal Bhai......my brother .

I had the best days of my life with this Family.

I can never forget the day I left Bahrain....it is still so fresh on my mind.....In the airport...when I turned back to say goodbye .....I saw Ratna Aunty, Acchu and Amit ..........my heart had never felt so heavy.

I have learnt a lot of things from Ratna aunty...this Karanji was one. Every Diwali Ratna Aunty and Acchu used to make close to 100 Karanjis....I was lucky to be part of 2 such Karanji making Diwalis in Bahrain. I did show off my Karanji making skills when I came back to Bangalore...my family was blown off.

Ingredients
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For outer crust

• 1 cup Flour (maida)
• 4 tbsp Semolina (fine)
• 2 tbsp oil
• pinch salt
• 1/3 cup lukewarm water

For Stuffing

• 1 cup fine Semolina
• 1/2 cup dry coconut (desiccated)
• 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 tbsp Black Sesame seeds
• 4 tbsp Cashew nuts (finely chopped)
• 2 tbsp Raisins
• 2 tbsp ghee
• Few drops of Vanilla

Oil for deep frying the Karanji

Method

1. Prepare the dough for outer crust: In a bowl mix flour, semolina,salt ad oil. Add little water at a time and make a smooth and soft dough.Cover and keep aside.
2. Prepare the filling: Place a pan on medium flame, add ghee, when ghee is hot add cashew nuts and raisins and fry for few seconds,now add sesame seeds and semolina and roast for 2 minutes. Add desiccated coconut and vanilla and roast. Do not let the mixture brown, you will know its ready when you touch the mixture and its feels very hot. take off the flame and add powdered sugar. check the sweetness.
3. Make a thick paste with 4 tbsp flour and water, this is used to glue the karanji together.
4. Now make small balls of dough. Roll each ball ,dusting with little flour to thin almost transparent chappatis. Take 1 tbsp of filling and place in middle of the rolled out chappati. Apply maida paste around the edges and fold to half (press the karanji to removed trapped air).Press the edges and using a pizza cutter,cut off the excess dough in the edge to form a proper semi circle.Keep this covered with paper or dry cloth.
5. Repeat the same procedure for the rest of the dough and filling.
6. Heat oil on medium high flame,check if the oil is ready by dropping a small piece of dough into the oil, if it sizzles a little then floats up,you can start frying the karanjis till they turn light golden brown.
7. Place on absorbent paper. let it cool completely before storing in air tight container.